Four school expansion projects to cost $1 million less than estimates

Bids for all but one project to expand the number of classrooms at four schools came in below the estimated costs, but the total costs for construct will be just over $1 million less than the estimate.

Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board members heard a presentation Thursday evening for adding capacity to Minglewood and Barkers Mill elementary schools, as well as Northeast Middle and High schools.

The County Commission has committed to paying for up to $15.7 million for the four projects but the prices bid by contractors totals nearly $14.6 million.

“So the cost is $1.129 million less than what (Norm Brumbley, facilities and engineering manager) estimated 15 months ago, which is pretty impressive,” Chief Operations Officer Jim Sumrell said, adding that recent hurricanes and flooding have driven up the cost of building materials and construction

Board members will vote to accept the bids next week and a resolution for the projects will then move to the County Commission next month for funding.

The bid from Romach Inc. of Franklin was approximately $638,000 above the estimated cost of $5 million school officials projected to adding on to Northeast High School.

Brumbley said the additional cost resulted primarily from having to upgrade the fire alarm system throughout the entire school at the direction of the state Fire Marshal, and because re-configuring a serving area in the cafeteria was a bit more complicated than expected.

Here’s a summary of the projects and costs.

Northeast High School – Twelve classrooms and two restrooms, along with a couple “administrative spaces” would be added at the left rear of the building. An auxiliary gym would be attached to the left front of the building. The cafeteria will be revamped to locate the serving area adjacent to the kitchen area and walls will enclose the open seating area to help contain noise that can disturb nearby classes. An area to the right rear of the school will be constructed as a better entrance for handicapped students.

Northeast Middle School – Ten classrooms and two restrooms will be added at the front right of the school and an improved student pick-up area will be constructed at the rear of the building. Contractor B.R. Miller of Clarksville was the low bidder at $3.01 million and the initial estimated cost was $3.7 million.

Barkers Mill Elementary – Twelve classrooms and two restrooms are to be added off the gym at the right rear of the school. To make way for the project, a playground will have to be relocated, and a dozen portable classrooms will be removed. Sumrell said an auxiliary gym might be added in the future at the area where portables sat. B.R. Miller bid the project at $2.84 million, and the original estimated cost was $3.5 million.

Minglewood Elementary – An addition with 12 classrooms and two restrooms is to be added where eight portable classrooms had been. The cost was estimated at $3.5 million but Pride Concrete in Erin bid the construction at $2.9 million. Sumrell added that about $200,000 more was needed for furniture, technology and equipment, bring the project total to $3.1 million.

Sumrell said all of the projects are expected to be completed by late in the first semester of the 2018-2019 school year. Construction should begin in February or possibly March.

Mark Hicks can be reached at 931-212-7626 or on Twitter: @markhicksleaf.